building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a usually roofed and walled structure built for permanent use (as for a dwelling)

2

: the art or business of assembling materials into a structure

Synonyms

• edifice
• structure

Examples of building in a Sentence

My office is in that small brick building.

We bought the land for building.

Recent Examples on the Web

The league hired Karla Thompson as its director of youth development last September, though the press release described her role as building connections between the league and the landscape of youth soccer. —Meg Linehan, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Charleston is a city full of beautiful buildings, but most of them are relatively small. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 26 Apr. 2025

The towns seem relatively full during the daytime—both in terms of people and in terms of interesting buildings to explore or patronize. —ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2025

For a boutique resort experience with Old Florida flair, opt for Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club, which has three separate buildings, a rooftop cocktail lounge, beachside tiki bar, and oceanfront restaurant. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing building

• apartment building
• building block
• building society
• sick building syndrome
• world building

Rhymes for building

• gilding
• boatbuilding
• outbuilding
• rebuilding
• roadbuilding
• shipbuilding
• upbuilding
• bodybuilding

Kids Definition

building

noun

build·​ing ˈbil-diŋ 

1

: a permanent structure built as a dwelling, shelter, or place for human activity or for storage

an office building

2

: the art, work, or business of assembling materials into a structure